Town Square

The Final Four is upon us with all sorts of 'stats"

Original post made
by Bob, Duveneck/St. Francis,
on Mar 28, 2007

The Final Four is upon us with all sorts of 'stats" -- height, blocks, rebounds, baskets,
free throws, three-pointers and on and on. But we never hear about the important 'stats'.
How many of the players, men and women, who made it to the "Sweet Sixteen" actually graduate? How many men leave school early for the NBA draft? What is the GPA of each player? - or if privacy is an issue, the average for the team? What is his or her college major?

Some schools have high academic standards and with others basketball is a farm club for the NBA - win and please the alumni and get into the NBA draft. Big crowds bring money. It would be an interesting study to find out what happens to all those players five years from now, ten, twenty. Only a small percentage will get to the NBA or play in Europe - and for how long? The women have even less options. We never hear these players unless they become 'famous". These young people deserve a future that a solid college education brings - not disillusionment when the glory ends.

Posted by stephen levy
a resident of University South
on Mar 29, 2007 at 8:38 pm

There is a positive and exciting side to college sports as well. I look forward to the Final Four. The young men and women are making their own choices and enriching the lives of many woth their effort and skill. Recently I saw the movie Glory Road about the five black players starting for Texas Western when they beat Kentucky in the finals in 1966 and how that event played into the civil rights changes going on in the country. And if you remember the end of the movie these atheletes led successful lives whether or not they played pro ball.

College sports also give a chance for college to some individuals who might not otherwise afford to go.

Do you have any evidence that atheletes who make it to the final four but not to the NBA have terrible lives? Why be sour on reaching the top in your sport.

Posted by theopaul
a resident of Barron Park
on Mar 29, 2007 at 8:57 pm

Perhaps, Bob, you are missing the point, and that is that these players ought to be paid for all the money that they are being used to make. Why should they want to entertain everyone for free, when they are participating in the nations second largest sporting event? Who could blame them for getting out of college ASAP under these conditions.